Vacation Bible School remains a summer staple for many Baptist churches, but a small Kentucky church asked why the exciting week of reaching children with the gospel had to stay in the summer.
Pastor Marlin Kimball and the rest of West Point Baptist Church chipped in with a new idea to give dozens of kids in their community a wintertime VBS.
Normal, but cooler
It’s like a normal VBS, only cooler.
“We are a small church, but we want to have a big impact in the lives of the children and in our community,” Kimball said. “They come to VBS, and we sow the seeds of the gospel, work on crafts, and do all of the normal VBS activities.”
Kimball has pastored at West Point for about seven years, and winter VBS has been a crucial part of their outreach for six years — always taking place after Christmas and before school starts back.
“A lot of times, kids have nothing else going on,” Kimball said. “Why not allow them to come have a fun week learning about God’s love? We are always amazed how many kids who wouldn’t normally come to Sunday School or church come to VBS.”
In the months leading up to VBS, the lobby of West Point Baptist houses a large jar where congregants drop off their pocket change. By the time VBS rolls around, the pocket change has accumulated to support a VBS budget for dozens of kids in the community.
“It’s something we all look forward to every year,” Kimball said. “Well, twice a year.”
Telling kids about Jesus
Kimball says that as an 83-year-old pastor, it’s difficult for him to get around like he used to. But he’s still a major supporter of VBS and is thankful that his church prioritizes telling the kids about Jesus — even when it’s cold.
“We are a very loving church, and I’ve been very blessed since I became pastor,” Kimball said. “It’s a great church where people get along and can come together and support ministries like VBS. Folks here really take it seriously, and we get to witness the effect it has on our little community. I mostly help by trying to stay out of their way, but I go and do whatever they tell me to do. It’s all about the kids and the gospel.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Travis Hearne and originally published by Kentucky Today.
